has had a lot of success with his series of quintet recordings for , but his fifth release for the label, which uses the same musicians as the first four CDs (tenor saxophonist , pianist , bassist , and drummer ), takes a different path, featuring the full band on four of the eleven tracks, then in various configurations from solo to duo, trio, and quartet. He explodes out of the box with a fiery take of 's "Blue 'N' Boogie" accompanied solely by . previously recorded his mellow ballad "Journey to the Stars" as a duet with , but for this session, he overdubs several muted trumpets in spots. switches to electric piano for the leader's haunting ballad "The Question," a trio feature that also showcases to good effect. The full quintet is heard in 's lush miniature "Right as Rain," with the rich blend of his fluegelhorn and 's tenor in the ensembles. steals the show with his engaging solo in 's tricky "No. 5," a potent post-bop workout. "GT" has a free jazz vibe, with potent solos all around. is all alone for the standard "Star Eyes" and 's infrequently played "A Blue Time," taking his time to work his way into the theme of the former while only briefly touching on it before returning to improvising on its well-traveled changes, then bringing out the melancholy air of the latter with a loping, spacious interpretation. continues to surprise with his thoughtful playing, composing, and arranging for this rewarding effort. ~ Ken Dryden